Job summary
PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A PART TIME ROLE
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our established Play Service team at Sheffield Children's Hospital. The role requires you to be flexible, as you will be expected to work mainly in the Out-Patients Department, but you may also be required to work across the various wards and departments within the Trust. Our team has 22 staff in different roles including Play Service Managers, Play Specialists, and Play leaders.
As Play Leader you will provide appropriate play and recreation activities for children from 0 - 16 years, who are either attending as Outpatients in clinic areas or on a Ward. You will also be expected to work with the team leader Play Specialist to deliver programmes of play and distraction.
You will be responsible for promoting the play service, and ensuring that the environment is family friendly, age appropriate and safe. You should have good communication skills, enjoy working with children and young people and their families and be able to use your own initiative, as well as working within a team
This is a part-time permanent post, and you will be part of the play team rota. The service provides cover Monday to Friday, and you will be required to work over 3 full days (9.00 am to 5.00 pm - days to be confirmed).
Main duties of the job
To provide play services across all areas where children and young people attend, at times dictated by their needs. This will include evenings and weekends.
To provide play and activities, appropriate to the age and needs of the children and young people throughout the trust
To ensure the environment in which children and young people attend is friendly, age appropriate and safe
To work with the play specialist, delivering programmes of play and distraction both developmental and therapeutic.
To positively promote and develop play services within the organisation
About us
At Sheffield Children's, our purpose is clear: to provide healthier futures for children and young people. Our three strategic aims are:
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Outstanding Patient Care
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Brilliant Place to work
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Leaders in Children's Health
We work successfully with local, regional, and national partners to provide physical and mental healthcare across acute and community settings. Many of our clinicians are amongst the best in their field, recognised nationally and internationally for their expertise.
As well as having enormous pride in what we do, we are a friendly, welcoming, and motivated NHS Trust who are guided by our CARE values: Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence. Our nearly 4000 colleagues live these values, ensuring kind and compassionate care that makes patients and their families feel safe and at home.
As we approach our 150th anniversary in 2026, we remain committed to enhancing our reputation in children's health leadership, improving the experiences of both patient and colleagues, and focusing on our communities and population health.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To communicate appropriately with children and young people of all ages and their families
- To act as an advocate for the child or young person throughout their attendance in hospital
- To respect differences in values, culture, religion and expectation without prejudice
To maintain confidentiality of information regarding children/ families at all times.
To communicate and liaise effectively with all members of the multidisciplinary team, both verbally and in writing.
To assist members of the MDT in the delivery of individualised care to children and their families
Assist members of the MDT in supporting children, young people and their families in times of stress or emotional crisis.
- Contribute to developmental assessment of individual children.
- Where appropriate, provide play and distraction for siblings to facilitate easier medical consultation or nursing care.
- Encourage and supervise children in play activities appropriate to age and developmental stage.
- Moving and handling of patients, moving and handling supplies which requires moderate physical effort during a shift.
Inclusive Recruitment & Selection
We are committed to being an inclusive employer and accurate data capture is an important part of that to ensure we are supportive and representative. Our aim is to ensure that all applicants can see themselves in the available categories on our application form, but we recognise that some of our data capture fields are not inclusive. We have flagged this with our system provider to ask for change.
We offer encouragement and active support to applicants with additional needs, including those from ethnic minorities, with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ+ community. If you wish to adjust any aspect of the recruitment process or wish to find out more about our recruitment & selection processes, please get in touch with our Recruitment Manager: Catherine.Gilbert7@nhs.net
We are continually reviewing our recruitment & selection process to support the long-term aim of Sheffield Childrens being a champion of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion. If you have any ideas for improvement, please get in touch with Catherine Gilbert at Catherine.Gilbert7@nhs.net
Trust Values
The Trust is committed to providing great quality patient care and keep children, young people and families at the heart of what we do by following our CARE values:
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To communicate appropriately with children and young people of all ages and their families
- To act as an advocate for the child or young person throughout their attendance in hospital
- To respect differences in values, culture, religion and expectation without prejudice
To maintain confidentiality of information regarding children/ families at all times.
To communicate and liaise effectively with all members of the multidisciplinary team, both verbally and in writing.
To assist members of the MDT in the delivery of individualised care to children and their families
Assist members of the MDT in supporting children, young people and their families in times of stress or emotional crisis.
- Contribute to developmental assessment of individual children.
- Where appropriate, provide play and distraction for siblings to facilitate easier medical consultation or nursing care.
- Encourage and supervise children in play activities appropriate to age and developmental stage.
- Moving and handling of patients, moving and handling supplies which requires moderate physical effort during a shift.
Inclusive Recruitment & Selection
We are committed to being an inclusive employer and accurate data capture is an important part of that to ensure we are supportive and representative. Our aim is to ensure that all applicants can see themselves in the available categories on our application form, but we recognise that some of our data capture fields are not inclusive. We have flagged this with our system provider to ask for change.
We offer encouragement and active support to applicants with additional needs, including those from ethnic minorities, with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ+ community. If you wish to adjust any aspect of the recruitment process or wish to find out more about our recruitment & selection processes, please get in touch with our Recruitment Manager: Catherine.Gilbert7@nhs.net
We are continually reviewing our recruitment & selection process to support the long-term aim of Sheffield Childrens being a champion of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion. If you have any ideas for improvement, please get in touch with Catherine Gilbert at Catherine.Gilbert7@nhs.net
Trust Values
The Trust is committed to providing great quality patient care and keep children, young people and families at the heart of what we do by following our CARE values:
Person Specification
Qualifications/Training
Essential
- English Language GCSE A-C or Level 2 equivalent. Level 3 Diploma in Childcare & Education / NNEB Diploma in Nursery Nursing, NVQ Level 3 in Children's Care, Learning and Development or other professional Childcare Qualification at Level 3 or above
Desirable
- Hospital Play Certificate Play-work Sector Endorsed Foundation degree (PSEFD). 1 year experience working in a child care setting. Documented evidence of Continued Professional Development.
Experience
Essential
- Working with children Able to support volunteers and play assistants
Desirable
- Caring responsibilities Working within health service
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- Family friendly environment Maintaining a safe environment Basic knowledge of Safeguarding/Child Protection To understand the importance of play to minimise the effects of hospitalisation on the child and family. To promote development of child. Communication: Verbal Written Organisational skills Written, verbal and non-verbal communication. Numeracy and literacy skills. Time-management skills. To have basic key board / I.T. skills to effectively use hospital information systems, including inputting data. To have up to date mandatory training in moving and handling techniques including wheel chairs, hoists and trolleys. To have knowledge of child protection and safeguarding Level 1. To have knowledge of Infection prevention and control measures
Desirable
- Infection Control Knowledge of issues relating to consent, child protection and confidentiality. Knowledge of developmental, therapeutic play, preparation and distraction for all age hospitalised children. Ability to evaluate and reflect on own practice Food Handling
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Commitment to: Caring environment Flexible working
Desirable
- Ability to be flexible within stated hours and areas of work.
Demonstrates Trust Values
Essential
- Compassion Accountability Respect Excellence
Person Specification
Qualifications/Training
Essential
- English Language GCSE A-C or Level 2 equivalent. Level 3 Diploma in Childcare & Education / NNEB Diploma in Nursery Nursing, NVQ Level 3 in Children's Care, Learning and Development or other professional Childcare Qualification at Level 3 or above
Desirable
- Hospital Play Certificate Play-work Sector Endorsed Foundation degree (PSEFD). 1 year experience working in a child care setting. Documented evidence of Continued Professional Development.
Experience
Essential
- Working with children Able to support volunteers and play assistants
Desirable
- Caring responsibilities Working within health service
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- Family friendly environment Maintaining a safe environment Basic knowledge of Safeguarding/Child Protection To understand the importance of play to minimise the effects of hospitalisation on the child and family. To promote development of child. Communication: Verbal Written Organisational skills Written, verbal and non-verbal communication. Numeracy and literacy skills. Time-management skills. To have basic key board / I.T. skills to effectively use hospital information systems, including inputting data. To have up to date mandatory training in moving and handling techniques including wheel chairs, hoists and trolleys. To have knowledge of child protection and safeguarding Level 1. To have knowledge of Infection prevention and control measures
Desirable
- Infection Control Knowledge of issues relating to consent, child protection and confidentiality. Knowledge of developmental, therapeutic play, preparation and distraction for all age hospitalised children. Ability to evaluate and reflect on own practice Food Handling
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Commitment to: Caring environment Flexible working
Desirable
- Ability to be flexible within stated hours and areas of work.
Demonstrates Trust Values
Essential
- Compassion Accountability Respect Excellence
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
